Locking device for the roof of a convertible car

ABSTRACT

A closing device for a folding top of a convertible including a one-handed swiveling handle supported in a longitudinal median plane of the vehicle at the roof peak part. The swiveling handle has a rod which extends symmetrically to the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle and transfers a swiveling motion. The connecting rod is constructed as a torsion bar which can be shifted jointly with the swiveling handle about a drag bearing of the swiveling handle at the roof peak part. End parts of the torsion bar are mounted immovably at the roof peak part in the region of locking mechanisms engaging the windshield frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a closing device for a folding top for aconvertible and a locking device for the roof of a convertible car.

The invention is concerned with the problem of creating a closing devicefor the folding top of a convertible of the type mechanisms arecontrolled by a small number of individual components and which can beshifted when not in use into a position in which the danger of damageand injury to the user is less and the operating comfort is improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a locking device for a folding top of a convertible car in accordancewith the invention, a torsion bar is provided for transferring theoperating motion of a swiveling handle and has a profiled bend in thelongitudinal direction so that the swiveling handle, interacting withtwo supporting/swiveling connections to a roof peak part provided at theends of the torsion bar, and towards the respective locking mechanisms,forms a kinematic chain. This enables a movement, independent of theuser, in the form of a forced control. After the device is actuated bymeans of the manually operated swiveling handle, the handle and thelocking mechanisms of the closing device are shifted automatically,without additional hand movements, into a storage position. After that,components which can be moved out of the roof plane are secured in aposition largely inaccessible to the user. In this manner, while theoperating comfort is improved, injuries due to inadvertent contact withprotruding components of the closing device are avoided.

The components of this forced control for the closing device areintegrated with little technical effort in the roof peak part of thefolding top so that, with few individual parts to be installed, afunctionally reliable opening and closing kinematic is achieved. In viewof the unimpeded accessibility of the simply constructed components, arapid, low-cost, partial installation is possible during installation orrepair work in the region of the closing device and, in the case ofdifferent tolerance dimensions, for example, in the region between thelocking components and the abutment at the windshield frame, expensiveadaptations are unnecessary because the parts can be adjusted easily.

With regard to further details and advantageous developments of theclosing device in accordance with the invention, reference is made tothe following description and the drawings, in which an example of theobject of the invention is illustrated in greater detail.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a sectional representation of a partial region of a roofpeak in which there is a closing device for a folding top of aconvertible, the details of which are not shown,

FIGS. 2-6 each show a sectional representation of the closing device inthe region of a swiveling handle supported in the longitudinal medianplane of the vehicle and the components of which in each case havedifferent movement phases,

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged sectional representation of the closing devicein the region of one of the lateral locking mechanisms of FIG. 1, and

FIGS. 8-13 show a sectional representation along a line III—III in FIG.1 with different movement phrases in the region of the lockingmechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a closing device, which is labeled 1 as a whole, is shown inthe left part of a roof peak 2, and by means of which the folding top ofa convertible, the details of which are not shown, can be locked in theregion of the windshield frame 3 (FIG. 2). The closing device I isprovided with a single-handed swiveling handle 5 supported at the roofpeak part 2 in the region of the longitudinal median plane 4 of thevehicle. In its actuating region 6, the single-handed swiveling handle 5has a connecting rod 9 which extends symmetrically to the longitudinalmedian plane 4 of the vehicle and by means of which a swiveling movement(arrow C, FIG. 3), produced by the hand movement of a user, istransferred synchronously to the end parts 7 (and 8, not shown). Therespective end part 7, 8, is provided with a locking mechanism 12 which,in the closed position of the folding top, engages an abutment 11 (FIG.8) at the windshield frame 3 and is, in turn, guided pivotably by aholding body 13 (FIG. 7).

In the closing device 1, the connecting rod is constructed as a torsionbar T which can be displaced jointly with the swiveling handle 5 about adrag bearing 14 of the swiveling handle 5 at the roof peak part 2 andthe end part 7 (or 8) in each case is mounted immovably at the roof peakpart 2 in the region of the locking mechanism 12. Starting out from itsmiddle part 15, which is fixed non-rotationally at the swiveling handle5, the torsion bar T, in the longitudinal direction to the lockingmechanism 12, in each case has an arched profiled part 16 so that adistance A integrated into the torsion bar T is formed between themiddle part 15 and the offset-extending end part 7. The end part 7 ofthe torsion bar T, in turn, is supported immovably over an external andan internal friction bearing 17, 18.

In light of this construction of the kinematic chain within the closingdevice I with the torsion bar which can be displaced by a manualactuation in the region of the swiveling handle 5 and pivotably takeshold of the respective locking mechanism 12 at the roof peak part,2,when the folding top is displaced into the open position (FIG. 6),elastic stresses which act as restoring forces are produced in theclosed position 1. In this manner, after the manual actuation is ended,the central swiveling handle 5 as well as the respective lockingmechanism 12 in the region of the holding body 13 can be returnedautomatically towards the roof peak part 2 into a storage position(arrow Z, FIG. 6 or arrow Z′, FIG. 13), these two components havingopposite swiveling directions.

The plan view of FIG. 1 shows that the drag bearing 14 of the swivelinghandle 5 has a swiveling axis 19 which in the closed position (FIG. 2)of the folding top lies in the direction of the longitudinal medianplane 4 of the vehicle, in front of the actuating region 6 of theswiveling handle 5. In front of this swiveling axis 19, the torsion barT is connected by a connecting axis 20 formed by the middle part 15 ofthe swiveling axis 19 with the swiveling handle 5. The swivelingposition of FIG. 4 illustrates in a sectional side view that theswiveling handle 5 defines a first lever part H which extends to theswiveling axis 19 of the swiveling handle 5 and acts together with asecond lever part H′ in the form of a connecting strut 22 which takeshold of the middle part 15 of the torsion bar T in the region of theconnecting axis 20.

Starting out from the width, available for the connecting strut 22 (withthe lever length H′) in the roof part 2 or in a molded trough 21, thelever ratio H/H′ can be selected so that by an optimum translation withthe slight manual force of an operator, the torsional resistance of thetorsion bar T and the frictional resistance in the region of thefriction bearing 17, 18, are overcome and a problem-free unlocking ispossible. The displacement of the torsion bar T (sequence of motions ofFIGS. 3-5) together with the locking mechanisms 12 can be carried outmanually even by an operator with little practice so that the roof peakpart 3 can be detached simply with a high degree of operational comfortfrom the windshield frame 3 (FIG. 6, FIG. 13).

The displacement of the torsion bar T in the region of its centralconnecting axis 20 takes place during the opening movement by means ofthe swiveling handle 5 on a movement path (FIG. 5) extending above thedrag bearing 14 or the swiveling axis 19 extending as an arc of a circleK. During this swiveling motion, the torsion bar T is shifted freelywithin the molded trough 21 arranged in the roof peak part 2 during theopening as well as during the closing process.

In FIG. 2, the swiveling handle 5 is shown in its closed position andhas a lockable dead center position. For this locking, a locking hook 23is arranged at the swiveling handle 5. The locking hook 23 isconstructed essentially symmetrically to its swiveling axis 24 and has apressure leg 25 and a hook part 26. By introducing a compressive force,illustrated by an arrow D, on the pressure leg 25, for example byexerting thumb pressure, the locking hook 23 is swiveled about theswiveling axis 24 (arrow A), a peak part 27 of the pressure leg 25 isshifted into a locking notch 28 at the swiveling handle 5 and, at thesame time, a latch 29 of the hook part 26 is detached from an abutment30 at the roof peak part 2 (FIG. 3). Thereafter, the swiveling handle 5can be shifted in the opening direction (arrow C), the locking hook 23being moved through an opening 21′ out of the roof peak part 2. Thelocking hook 23 is supported at the swiveling handle 5 by a returnspring, which is not shown, so that after the unlocking phase, thelocking hook 23 can be swiveled automatically by the compressive force Dout of the index notch 28 and remains in the position shown in FIG. 4.The locking takes place in the reverse sequence of motions.

In this opening position (FIG. 5) of the swiveling handle 5, the hand ofthe operator remains at the actuating region 6 of the swiveling handleand the roof peak part 2 can be detached from the windshield frame 3 asa whole by a lifting motion (arrow 41′). During a guided return (notshown), which then becomes possible by means of the torsion bar T intothe position of FIG. 2, the above described movement of the component inthe reverse sequence takes place and the locking hook 23 is swiveledthrough the opening 21′ into the roof peak part 2.

In FIG. 7, the support of the torsion bar T in the region of its endparts 7 is shown with structural details. It can be seen that the endpart 7 interacts with the two friction bearings 17, 18 arranged at adistance B and between which the respective holding body 13 is providedwith the locking mechanism 12. This perspective representation of FIG. 7illustrates that the holding body 13 in each case is constructed as aU-shaped profiled part which is supported in the region of a transverseaxis 32, defined from the end part 7 of the torsion bar T and in turndefines the distance A to the connecting axis 20 of the middle part 15,by two parallel leg parts 33, 34 to the friction bearings 17, 18. Aswiveling axis 35, supporting the locking mechanism 12, extends at adistance from the transverse axis 32 between the two leg parts 32 and33.

In the region of the swiveling axis 35, the locking mechanism 12 isprovided with a return spring 36 braced between the locking mechanism 12and the holding body 13. The return spring 36 holds the lockingmechanism 12 in the U-shaped holding body 13 (FIG. 7). During theopening and closing movements, the return spring 36 acts together withthe torsion bar T and, during the introduction of a rotational movementE, synchronous with this opening movement C, the return spring 36, inthe swiveling region of the holding body 13 (arrow 37), is acted uponwith a pre-tension acting against the force of the spring. In thismanner, after the opening process, the re-setting of the components canbe supported so that the above-described movements, indicated by arrowsZ and Z′ (FIG. 6 or 13), can be repeated functionally reliably a largenumber of times. In FIGS. 10-13, these movement phases are illustratedin the region of the locking mechanism 12 in a representation, which issynchronous with the movement phases of the swiveling handle 5 of FIGS.3-6, so that as a result of these movements, the production of thepre-tensions can be reconstructed in the torsion bar T as well as in thereturn spring 36.

In the closed position shown in FIG. 8, the locking mechanism 12 is heldat the windshield frame 3 and forms with the holding body 13 a deadcenter position, the two components lying in contact with one another ina region P and being fixed in this manner. When a swiveling motion C isintroduced in the region of the swiveling handle 5, the holding body 13is moved out of the dead center position (FIG. 9) and the lockingmechanism 12 still remains at the windshield frame 3 in its closedposition. As the opening process is continued in the region of theswiveling handle 5, the holding body 13 is swiveled in its swivelingdirection 37 about the transverse axis 32, the locking mechanism 12 atthe same time being released from the closed position at the abutment 11(FIG. 10). At the same time, the locking mechanism 12 is guided from theabutment 11 into a region R, since the swiveling motion 37 in the regionof the holding body 13 acts in this opening phase as a thrust motion inthe region of the locking mechanism 12 (arrow F, FIG. 10).

The continuation of the swiveling motion in the region of the swivelinghandle 5 leads to the swiveling positions of the locking mechanism 12,which are shown in FIGS. 11-13. In the closing device in accordance withthe invention, a rear supporting shoulder 38 is provided at the lockingmechanism 12 and makes contact with an abutment 39 of the roof peak part2. With this contact of the components, the above-described pretensionof the return spring 36 can be initiated, a swiveling motion (arrow 40)now taking place against the force of the restoring spring and thelocking mechanism 12 being shifted against the movement (arrow 37) ofthe holding body 13 (FIG. 11). At the same time, the locking mechanism12 is moved about the swiveling axis 35 (FIG. 12) and out of the regionof the abutment 11 at the windshield frame 3. At the same time, themovement of the locking mechanism 12 is guided by the supportingshoulder 38 in the form of a connecting link guide. A radii contour 38′of the supporting shoulder 38 rolls on a plane 39′ of the abutment 39, anon-positive restricted guidance of the components being achieved and,at the same time, the swiveling axis 35 being displaced in the directionof the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle. The shifting of theswiveling axis 35 takes place until the locking mechanism 12 assumes anessentially vertical position (FIG. 13). In this swiveling position, thefolding top can now be raised into an opening position of arrow 41without colliding with the windshield frame 3. A gap S, adequate formovement, is now formed between the locking mechanisms 12 and thewindshield frame 3 so that any unintended contact of the components isavoided.

After the folding top is lifted off and the swiveling handle 5 isreleased by the operator, the components can be swiveled back by theoperator as described above. The spring action between the parts 7, 15of the torsion bar T, which was shifted during the opening process andthe pre-tension produced in the region of the restoring spring 36, atthe same time being effective such that the swiveling handle 5automatically swivels back in the direction of the roof peak part 2(opposite to the sequence of motions of FIGS. 2-7) and the lockingmechanism 12 also is swiveled into a position approximately parallel tothe roof peak part 2 (FIG. 2). Accordingly, a storage position of thecomponents of the closing device 1 is attained and the entire foldingtop can be shifted into an opening position in the rear of the vehicle,the details of which are not shown. At the same time, there are noprotruding parts of the folding top in the region of the closing device1 which may pose a danger to the operator.

For the sequence of motions described above, the locking mechanism 12preferably is constructed in two parts with a locking hook 42 and asupporting body 43 which supports the locking hook 42. The supportingshoulder 38 can be placed against the counter-contour of the roof peak 2and preferably is integrally molded in one piece with the supportingbody 43. The locking hook 42 of the locking mechanism 12 is fixed at thesupporting body 43 so that it can be shifted in an accommodating groove44. In this manner, with little effort, the locking hook 42 or thelocking mechanism 12 can be adapted optimally to the abutment 11 in theregion of the windshield frame 3 by an adjustment by an adjusting screw46. The locking hook 42 can be adjusted in the direction of arrow N(FIG. 11) such that, in the closed position, the locking mechanism 12 isclamped optimally and a reliably tight contact between the roof peakpart 2 and the windshield frame 3 is achieved in the region of a sealingprofile 47.

What is claimed is:
 1. A closing device for a folding top of aconvertible, comprising: a one-handed swiveling handle supported in alongitudinal median plane of the vehicle at a roof peak part; aconnecting rod extending symmetrically to the longitudinal median planeof the vehicle and having end parts having locking mechanisms adapted toengage abutments at the windshield frame when the folding top is in aclosed position, the locking mechanisms being guided pivotably by aholding body; and a drag bearing, the connecting rod being constructedas a torsion bar and arranged to be shifted jointly with the swivelinghandle about the drag bearing at the roof peak part and the end parts ofthe torsion bar being rotatably mounted at said roof peak part in aregion of the locking mechanisms, the torsion bar being structured andarranged to form a restricted guidance to the roof peak part when thefolding top is in the open position in order to guide the respectivelocking mechanism in the region of the holding body and the centralswiveling handle automatically into a storage position.
 2. The closingdevice of claim 1, wherein a middle part of the torsion bar is fixednon-rotationally at t swiveling handle, the torsion bar having anarc-shaped profile part in the longitudinal direction to each of thelocking mechanisms, the end part extending parallel to the middle partof the torsion part and adjoining the arc-shaped profile part andforming a stationary support towards the locking mechanism with at leastone friction bearing.
 3. The closing device of claim 2, wherein the dragbearing of the swiveling handle has a swiveling axis which, in theclosed position of the folding top, lies in front oft as seen in thedirection of the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle, the actuatingregion of the swiveling handle and, parallel in front of this swivelingaxis, the torsion bar is connected with the swiveling handle by aconnecting axis formed by the middle part.
 4. The closing device ofclaim 2, wherein the swiveling handle defines a first lever part, whichextends towards the swiveling axis of the swiveling handle and, on theother hand, interacts with a second lever part, which sakes hold of themiddle part of d e torsion bar in the region of the connecting axis. 5.The closing device of claim 3, wherein the torsion bar, in the region ofits middle connecting axis, is arranged to be swivelable during theopening motion of the swiveling handle above the drag bearing of theswiveling handle.
 6. The closing device of claim 1, wherein theswiveling handle and the locking mechanism assume a lockable position inthe closed position of the folding top.
 7. A closing device for afolding top of a convertible, comprising: a one-handed swiveling handlesupported in a longitudinal median plane of the vehicle at a roof peakpart; a connecting rod extending symmetric y to the longitudinal medianplane of the vehicle and having end parts having locking mechanismsadapted to engage abutments at the windshield frame when the folding topis in a closed position, the locking mechanisms being guided pivotablyby a holding body; a drag bearing, the connecting rod being constructedas a torsion bar and arranged to be shifted jointly with the swivelinghandle about the drag bearing at the roof peak part and the end parts ofthe torsion bar being rotatably mounted at said roof peak part in aregion of the locking mechanisms; and a locking hook mounted at theswiveling paddle and arranged to be unlocked by finger pressure.
 8. Theclosing device of claim 7, wherein the locking hook has a pressure legshiftable into an index notch at the swiveling handle and a hook partarranged at the roof peak part to grip behind an abutment.
 9. Theclosing device of claim 1, wherein the torsion bar interacts in theregion of the respective end part with two friction bearings, which arearranged at a distance and between which the respective holding bodywith the locking mechanism is provided.
 10. The closing device of claim1, wherein the holding body for the locking mechanism in each case isconstructed as a U-shaped profiled part which, in the region of atransverse axis, defined by the end part of the torsion bar, issupported by two parallel leg parts towards the friction bearings, aswiveling axis (35), supporting the locking mechanism, extending at adistance from this transverse axis between the two leg parts of theU-shaped profiled part.
 11. The closing device of claim 10, wherein thelocking mechanism is connected in the region of its swiveling axis witha restoring spring, fixed to the holding body.
 12. The closing device ofclaim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is constructed in two parts witha locking hook and a supporting body, which supports the locking hook,and has, at the other end, a supporting shoulder arranged to engage anabutment of the roof peak part.
 13. The closing device of claim 12,wherein the supporting shoulder is arranged at a rear of the supportingbody of the roof peak part including an abutment arranged to support thesupporting shoulder.
 14. The closing device of claim 12, wherein thelooking hook (42) of the locking mechanism is fixed at the supportingbody so that it is movable in an accommodating groove.
 15. A closingdevice for a folding top of a convertible, comprising: a handle; aconnecting rod having a middle portion and two end portions; a dragbearing for coupling said handle to said middle portion of saidconnecting rod such that said connecting rod is movable upon movement ofsaid handle and said end portions are on opposite sides of said handle;two locking mechanisms for locking the folding top to a windshield frameof the convertible when the folding top is in a closed position; and twoholding bodies, each of said holding bodies being arranged on arespective one of said end portions of said connecting rod and guiding arespective one of said locking mechanisms, said connecting rod beingarranged to guide said locking mechanisms and said handle automaticallyinto a Storage position when the folding top is in an open position. 16.The closing device of claim 15, wherein said handle is a one-handedswivelling handle.
 17. The closing device of claim 15, wherein saidconnecting rod is constructed as a torsion bar.
 18. The closing deviceof claim 15, wherein said connecting rod has an arcuate portion betweensaid middle portion and each of said end portions, said middle portionbeing substantially parallel to said end portions, further comprisingfriction bearings for supporting said end portions of said connectingrod.
 19. The closing device of claim 15, wherein said drag bearing has aconnecting strut connected to said handle along a common swivel axis infront of an actuating region of said handle and connected to said middleportion of said connecting rod along a common connecting axis.
 20. Theclosing device of claim 15, wherein said handle defines a swivel axisand a first lever part extending toward said swivel axis, the closingdevice further comprising a second lever part attached to said middleportion of said connecting rod and interacting with said first,leverpart.
 21. The closing device of claim 15, wherein said connecting rod isarranged to swivel above said drag bearing during movement of saidhandle to open the folding top.
 22. The closing device of claim 1,wherein said handle and said locking mechanisms are structured andarranged to be lockable in fixed positions when the folding top is inthe closed position.
 23. A closing device for a folding top of aconvertible, comprising: a handle; a connecting rod having a middleportion and two end portions; a drag bearing for coupling said handle tosaid middle portion of said connecting rod such that said connecting rodis movable upon movement of said handle and said end portions are onopposite sides of said handle; two locking mechanisms for locking thefolding top to a windshield frame of the convertible when the foldingtop is in at closed position; two holding bodies, each of said holdingbodies being arranged on a respective one of said end portions of saidconnecting rod and guiding a respective one of said locking mechanisms;and a locking hook coupled to said handle for releasably locking saidhandle to the folding top.
 24. The closing device of claim 23, whereinsaid handle includes an index notch, said locking hook including apressure leg movable into said index notch of said handle to therebylock said locking hook to said handle and a hook part for engaging withthe folding top to thereby enable said handle to be maintained inconnection with the folding top.
 25. The closing device of claim 15,further comprising a pair of friction bearings for supporting each ofsaid end portions of said connecting rod, said friction bearings of eachpair being spaced from one another and a respective one of said holdingbodies being arranged between said friction bearings of each pair. 26.The closing device of claim 15, wherein each of said holding bodiescomprises a U-shaped part having two parallel leg parts between whichthe respective one of said locking mechanisms is pivotally mounted. 27.The closing device of claim 15, further comprising a respectiverestoring spring arranged between each of said locking mechanisms andthe respective one of said holding bodies.
 28. A closing device for afolding top of a convertible, comprising: a handle; a connecting rodhaving a middle portion and two end portions; a drag bearing forcoupling said handle to said middle portion of said connecting rod suchthat said connecting rod is movable upon movement of said handle andsaid end portions are on opposite sides of said handle; two lockingmechanisms for locking the folding top to a windshield frame of theconvertible when the folding top is in a closed position; and twoholding bodies, each of said holding bodies being arranged on arespective one of said end portions of said connecting rod and guiding arespective one of said locking mechanisms, each of said lockingmechanisms comprising a locking hook and a supporting body having afirst end at which said locking hook is supported and a second, oppositeend forming a supporting shoulder, said supporting shoulder beingadapted to engage the folding top.
 29. The closing device of claim 28,wherein said supporting body includes a groove, said looking hook beingattached to said supporting body such that it is slidable in saidgroove.
 30. A convertible, comprising: a windshield frame; a folding tophaving a roof peak part and an open position in which said folding topis situated in a compartment of the vehicle and a closed position inwhich said folding top engages with said windshield frame; and a closingdevice arranged in said folding top for closing said folding top, saidclosing device comprising: a handle; a connecting rod having a middleportion and two end portions; a drag bearing for coupling said handle tosaid middle portion of said connecting rod such that said connecting rodis movable upon movement of said handle and said end portions are onopposite sides of said handle; two locking mechanisms for locking saidfolding top to said windshield frame when said folding top is in saidclosed position; and two holding bodies, each of said holding bodiesbeing arranged on a respective one of said end portions of saidconnecting rod and guiding a respective one of said locking mechanisms.said connecting rod being arranged to guide said locking mechanisms andsaid handle automatically into a storage position when said folding topis in said open position.
 31. The convertible of claim 30, wherein saidhandle is a one-handed swivelling handle.
 32. The convertible of claim30, wherein said connecting rod is constructed as a torsion bar.
 33. Theconvertible of claim 30, wherein said connecting rod has an arcuateportion between said middle portion and each of said end portions, saidmiddle portion being substantially parallel to said end portions,further comprising friction bearings for supporting said end portions ofsaid connecting rod.
 34. The convertible of claim 30, wherein saidhandle is arranged in a longitudinal median plane of the convertible atsaid roof peak part.
 35. The convertible of claim 30, wherein saidconnecting rod extends symmetrically to a longitudinal median plane ofthe vehicle.
 36. The convertible of claim 30, wherein said drag bearinghas a connecting strut connected to said handle along a common swivelaxis in front of an actuating region of said handle and connected tosaid middle portion of said connecting rod along a common connectingaxis.
 37. The convertible of claim 30, wherein said handle defines aswivel axis and a first lever part extending toward said swivel axis,said closing device further comprising a second lever part attached tosaid middle portion of said connecting rod and interacting with saidfirst lever part.
 38. The convertible of claim 30, wherein saidconnecting rod is arranged to swivel above said drag bearing duringmovement of said handle to open said folding top.
 39. The convertible ofclaim 30, wherein said handle and said locking mechanisms are structuredand arranged to be lockable in fixed positions when said folding top isin the closed position.
 40. A convertible comprising: a windshield fame;a folding top having a roof peak part and an open position in which saidfolding top is situated in a compartment of the vehicle and a closedposition in which said folding top engages with said windshield frame;and a closing device arranged in said folding top for closing saidfolding top, said closing device comprising: a handle; a connecting rodhaving a middle portion and two end portions; a drag bearing forcoupling said handle to said middle portion of said connecting rod suchthat said connecting rod is movable upon movement of said handle andsaid end portions are on opposite sides of said handle; two lockingmechanisms for locking said folding top to said windshield frame whensaid folding top is in said closed position; two holding bodies, each ofsaid holding bodies being arranged on a respective one of said endportions of said connecting rod and guiding a respective one of saidlocking mechanisms; and a locking hook coupled to said handle forreleasably locking said handle to said folding top.
 41. The convertibleof claim 40, wherein said handle includes an index notch, said lockinghook including a pressure leg movable into said index notch of saidhandle to thereby lock said locking hook to said handle and a hook partfor engaging with said folding top to thereby enable said handle to bemaintained in connection with said folding top.
 42. The convertible ofclaim 30, further comprising a pair of friction bearings for supportingeach of said end portions of said connecting rod, said friction bearingsof each pair being spaced from one another and a respective one of saidholding bodies being arranged between said friction bearings of eachpair.
 43. The convertible of claim 30, wherein each of said holdingbodies comprises a U-shaped part having two parallel leg parts betweenwhich the respective one of said locking mechanisms is pivotallymounted.
 44. The convertible of claim 30, further comprising arespective restoring spring arranged between each of said lockingmechanisms and the respective one of said holding bodies.
 45. Aconvertible comprising: a windshield frame; a folding top having a roofpeak part and an open position in which said folding top is situated ina compartment of the vehicle and a closed position in which said foldingtop engages with said windshield frame; and a closing device arranged insaid folding top for closing said folding top, said closing devicecomprising: a handle; a connecting rod having a middle portion and twoend portions; a drag bearing for coupling said handle to said middleportion of said connecting rod such that said connecting rod is movableupon movement of said handle and said end portions are on opposite sidesof said handle; two locking mechanisms for locking said folding top tosaid windshield frame when said folding top is in said closed position;and two holding bodies, each of said holding bodies being arranged on arespective one of said end portions of said connecting rod and guiding arespective one of said locking mechanisms, each of said lockingmechanisms comprising a locking hook and a supporting body having afirst end at which said locking hook is supported and a second, oppositeend forming a supporting shoulder, said supporting shoulder beingadapted to engage said folding top.
 46. The convertible of claim 45,wherein said supporting body includes a groove, said looking hook beingattached to said supporting body such that it is slidable in saidgroove.
 47. The convertible of claim 30, wherein said roof peak part offolding top includes a trough, said connecting rod, said lockingmechanisms, said drag bearing and said holding bodies being arranged insaid trough.